Chicago to Rio De Janeiro (ORD–GIG) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders need an eVisa to enter Brazil. Apply through the official portal at gov.br/mre before departure. The eVisa costs USD 80.90, is valid for 10 years with multiple entries, and allows stays up to 90 days per visit. Processing takes a few business days. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.

CTA Blue Line runs 24/7 from downtown Loop stations to O'Hare (45 min, $5). Pace buses serve suburbs. Ride-shares cost $35–55 from downtown depending on traffic; add 30+ minutes during rush hour on the Kennedy Expressway.Economy parking lots E/F connect via ATS people mover. Terminal 5 (international) is separate from Terminals 1–3; allow extra time for inter-terminal transfers.

Uber and 99 serve the airport at R$50–80 to Ipanema or Copacabana (40–60 min off-peak). Official táxi amarelo (yellow taxi) at the curb: R$80–120. Pre-pay at the taxi counter inside arrivals for a fixed rate option.The Real Auto Ônibus airport bus (R$16) runs to Rodoviária Novo Rio, Cinelândia metro station, and Santos Dumont Airport. BRT Transcarioca (R$4.05) serves Barra da Tijuca. Rental car desks are in the arrivals hall. GIG is 40km from the South Zone; always check traffic before planning ground travel time.

Tropical climate on Guanabara Bay. Summer (December–March) is hot and very wet at 28–37°C with intense afternoon downpours that regularly flood approach roads and occasionally cause airport disruptions. January and February see the highest rainfall and are the most disruption-prone months operationally.

Winter (June–September) is warm and drier at 22–28°C. This is the most operationally stable period. The airport sits on Ilha do Governador. Approach paths are over water, but the surrounding terrain causes occasional windshear on the south runway. Rio's Carnival period (February–March) creates extreme traffic on ground access routes.